Greggs is preparing to trial vending machines as part of a wider effort to experiment with new retail formats and reach locations that can’t support a full store.

The bakery chain revealed the plans during its latest earnings call, where executives described the machines as “unattended retail solutions” that could help unlock growth in smaller or underserved locations.

Trials set to begin ‘shortly’

According to Greggs chief financial officer Richard Hutton, trials of the vending machines will begin “very shortly”.

Hutton said the tests will include “both automated and manual vending solutions”, suggesting a range of formats could be explored as the company evaluates how best to expand its footprint beyond traditional stores.

The concept could allow Greggs to serve customers in locations where operating a full bakery outlet is not viable, opening up what Hutton described as a “significant growth opportunity in underrepresented catchments”.

The move follows what the retailer described as a promising response to its first three Bitesize stores.

These smaller outlets offer a reduced menu of Greggs products and have been located in transport hubs and other high-footfall locations such as train stations, airports and retail parks.

The vending machine trials represent another step in Greggs’ strategy to diversify how and where customers can access its products.

Greggs chief executive Roisin Currie said the business currently has several retail trials underway aimed at improving convenience for shoppers and expanding the occasions in which customers interact with the brand.

She added that the initiatives are designed to “provide convenience for customers” while also helping to “unlock additional customer missions”.

Further developments in the pipeline

Hutton suggested the vending machines are only one part of a broader pipeline of initiatives under development.

He said Greggs is working on several additional projects “in the background” that could generate new income streams for the business in the years ahead, though he noted the company is “not quite ready to talk about that”.

Profit declines despite sales growth

The update came as Greggs reported statutory pre-tax profits of £167.4m for the year to 27 December, down 17.9 per cent year on year.

Total sales increased 6.8 per cent to £2.15bn over the same period.

However, the company said sales momentum slowed at the start of 2026. Like-for-like sales at established stores rose 1.6 per cent in the first nine weeks of the year, while total sales increased 6.3 per cent driven by new store openings.

Greggs said the year-on-year profit performance reflected “challenging market conditions”, alongside a spell of unusually hot weather that affected footfall and consumer behaviour.